Ditching-machine.



0. G. PARKS. DITOHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1910.

994,781 I Patented June 13,1911.

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'0. G. PARKS. DITGHING' MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Nov.11,191o.

994,781. Patentd June 13, 1911.

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llllE OTTO CLIFF PAR-KS, OF BILLINGS, MONTANA.

DITGHING-MACI-IINE.

To all whom it may com com:

Be it known that I, Orro CLIFF PARKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Billings, in the county of Yellowstone and State of Montana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Ditching-llfaehines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ditching machines, and it has for its objectto construct a device of this class which may be advantageously employedin the construction of irrigation ditches,

A further object of the invent-ion is to construct a ditching machineincluding a wheel-supported frame and a vertically adjustable ditchingplow of simple and improved construction.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve thegeneral construction and operation of a machine of the characteroutlined above.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claim.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theinvention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ditching machineconstructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation. Fig. 1 is a rearelevation. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 55 inFig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 66 in Fig.3.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

The frame structure of the improved machine is supported upon an axlecomprising a casing 1 which is of tubular form, preferably rectangularin cross section, said casing affording a housing for a pair of rackbars 2-2 having spindles 3 upon which the transporting wheels 4 aremounted for -rotation. The frame includes upper and lower side members 5and 6, the latter of which Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 11, 1910.

Serial No. 591,809.

Patented June 13, 1911.

are firmly supported upon and connected with the axle casing, while theupper side pieces 5 are supported by means of uprights 7 rising from thelower side members 6; the latter have forwardly converging extensions 8adjacent to the front ends of which a draft link 9 may be suitablyattached. The frame structure is provided with suitably disposedbearings for two vertical shafts 10 provided adjacent to their lowerends with pinions l1 meshing with the WheeLca-rrying rack bars 2, whichlatter are thus capable of adjustment to space the transporting wheelsdifferent distances apart. The shafts 10 are provided adjacent to theirupper ends with bevel pinions 13 meshing with bevel pinions 14 uponsuitably supported horizontal shafts 15 carrying hand wheels 16, wherebythey may be rotated for the purpose of rotating the shafts 10 to effectthe desired adjustment of the transporting wheels. The

frame supports a platform 17 upon which the operator may be stationed.

Suitably supported adjacent to the converging front ends of the sidemembers 8 of the frame is a vertically disposed housing 18 in which arack bar 19 is guided for vertical movement. Suitably swiveled upon thelower end of the rack bar is a forked arm 20 carrying a caster wheel 21which serves as a guide wheel. A shaft 22 supported for rotation in rearof the rack bar carries a pinion 23 meshing with said rack bar; saidshaft also carries a worm wheel 2%. meshing with a worm 25 upon asuitably supported inclined shaft 26 carrying a hand wheel 27 which isconvenient to the operator, who by means of said hand wheel may rotatethe shaft 26, thus transmitting rotary movement to the shaft 22 carryingthe pinion 23, whereby the rack bar 19 carrying the caster wheel may bevertically adjusted. Suitably mounted upon the rack bar 19 above thewheel-carrying arm 20 is a collar 28 having laterally extendingtrunnions 29 upon which the arms or side members of a yoke 30 arehingedlysupported; said yoke being provlded w1th a rearwardly extendingarm or bracket 31. The ditching plow 82 is provided w1th a cross bar 83connecting the landside with the mold board of said plow, said cross bar33 being connected with the bracket 31 of the yoke 30, said bracket andyoke together constituting a draft member, whereby the ditching plow isconnected with the vert1- cally adjustable rack bar. Upwardly extendingarms 34 are connected, respectively, with the mold board and thelandside of the plow, each of said bars being provided adjacent to itsupper end with a plurality of apertures 25 for the passage of theconnecting member, such as a pin or bolt 36, whereby said bar 34 ispivotally connected with a lever 37 fulcrumed upon the frame of themachine, and whereby vertical adjustment of the plow may be effected.Each of the hand levers 37 is provided with a stop member 38 adapted toengage a suitably supported segment rack 39, whereby the parts may besecured in adjusted position. Each of the hand levers 37 is preferablyprovided with a slot, as shown in dotted lines at 40 in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, for the passage of the pin or connecting member 36 in order toenable said connecting pin to follow the arcuate movement of the lever.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.As will be readily seen, the ditching plow is capable of verticaladjustment with relation to the frame so that a ditch or excavation ofthe desired depth may be made,

while for transportation, the plow may be raised or lowered to asuitable distance above the ground.

The construction is simple, and the device is thoroughly efficient forthe purposes for which it is intended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

In a device of the character described, a frame including forwardlyconverging side members, a housing supported vertically adjacent to thefront end of the frame, a rack bar supported for vertical adjustment insaid housing',-a transversely disposed rack having a rack-engagingpinion and a worm gear, an inclined shaft having a hand wheel and agear-engaging worm, a caster wheel supported adjacent to the lower endof the rack bar, a collar upon said rack bar having laterally extendingtrunnions, a plow having a cross bar, a member including a yokeconnecting said cross bar with the trunnions upon the collar, and meansfor effecting vertical adjustment of the plow.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- OTTO CLIFF PARKS. Witnesses G. C. CIsEL, JAMES L. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

